Compression resistant chain



coMrREssIoN RESISTANT CHAINS' Filed sept.` 29, 1941I ssneets-sheet 1 May 8, 1945. K, BENDER 2,375,461

` I COMPRESSION RESISTANT CHAINS I v Filed Sept. 29, 1941v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 8, 1945. K BENDER COMPRESSION RESISTANT CHAINS Filed Sept. 29, 1941 3 SheetsfSheet 3 lm/en for g a' comparatively 'small Patented May 8., 1945 UNITED* Is'flArrss PATENT OFFICE COMPRESSION RESISTANT CHAIN Karl Bender, Wurzburg, Germany; vested in the Alien Property Custodian t y Application september 29, 1941, seria1N0.412,904

, In Germany March 27, 1937 v 14 Qlaims. n

The present -invention relates to improvements in compression resistant chains `i especially although not necessarily for use in the lifting gear of sluices, flood or lifting gates, mitred lock gates and the likejthe said chains each comprising two oppcsitely acting flat link chains capable o being rolled up in the 'sameplane For the operationfoff'such gates and the like racks have been proposed, which consist of members,v pivoted to each other and which, when transmitting pressure, are rendered jresist'ant against buckling by guides provided at least two points. This construction, however, has the drawback that such guides must be providedand that a compression resistant structure is present only as far as theseguidesextend. .n l

It has also been suggested to produce aA compression resistant lifting device composed of two oppositely acting link chains having links consisting of solid blocks'whichbear against each" other over their entire length rwhen the chains are wound up, but eventhis construction cannot be considered to be anr ideal solution as the distance at whichthe'pivot'points in this structure are spaced Afrom eachother has, vofjnecessity, to be rather small, so that the resultant profile has only moment of `resistance againstbuckling. n

Accordingv to` the' present invention a more favorable compression resistant structurel-of` the type indicated is obtained by providing a compression resistant group consisting of two op` posit'ely acting at link chains and a third flat link chain arranged at right, anglestoand bear-A ing against` thetwo oppositely acting chains.

The chains. may alsobe so constructed that the individuallinks of thetwo oppositely-acting chains may be hookf-shaped-so as to interlock without directly bearing upon veach other.

The .manufacture of such groups of `compression resistantat link chains is vrelatively cheap,

whereas thereliability of service yand thejresistance against bucklingandcompression are'high.

According to a preferred yconstruction ofthe invention the chains are composed of links whose lengths are multiples'k ofthe pitch of the chain pins.' The middle axes `o1 the pins are xed'to connecting links in lsuch a manner that the connecting links extend vabout half the pitch of lthe pins beyondthe centre links. v'I'hereby afork is formed into whichengagesthe pivot `pin of the next following middle. link. These connecting links may be. constructed as locking lhookswhich engage the oppositely arranged elongated chain pins and lock the chain. The locking hooks may be detachably connected to the middle links.

The middle chain preferably serves as a counter-bearing for the chain pins of the two cooperating chains so that-disengagement of the chain pins from the teeth of the driving gears,v or of the reversingwheels is prevented.

Inthe accompanying drawings some construcway of example.y

In these drawings: 1 i

Figure` 1 shows a group of flat link chains in which the links of the two oppositely; acting chains bear against each other,

Fig. 2 is a cross section on line II,II

Fig. 3' shows a modification, in whichthe links of the oppositely acting'chains are interlocked without bearing against each other,

Fig.' 4 isa vcross section ron line IV-IV of '3,A

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the construction shown Fig. 6 shows a side elevationof another construction according to the invention, 2 Fig'. 7 is a section on lineVIIe-VII of Fig. 6, ,l

l `Fig..8 is a detail view-onasomewhat larger scale, and f Fig. 9 is a sectional on line IX-IX of Fig. 6; v

Each group of chains consists of' threeA iiat A link chains allof which are bolted to the body to lbe lifted. The two oppositely acting side Chains are trained over individual sprocket i` driving Y.

, wheels and` constitute the lifting Vmembers proper of the lifting gear. The sprocket wheels of theL f two side chains are coupled by gears so that they l are simultaneously driven with the same number of revolutions. The distance the two sprocket 'wheels are spaced fromeach other isj soA chosen that hook-shaped chain` links onthe sidechains 40 securely interlock as soon asthey reachy `the vertical position .after having moved over the sprocket wheels. V

The third or middlecliain operatesrbetween f 55. resultswhich, when pressure is exertedthereupon,

`tions according to the kinvention are shown 'by yof Fig-l,

rower `linm are chosen'for thev third'cha-inthen icannot deflect to any side and,- therefore,is resistant against buckling.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings the links a of the side chains'A and B are so l'formed that the bores for the link pins d are not arranged in the middle of the links, but are spaced from the longitudinal edge ofthe links vfacing the sprocket wheels 4at the smallest distance con' sistent withsuf'cient strengthhof the links. lThe 10, plicd. The-lengths l'of the `chain links are so f vided as either the upper orlower pin of each force acting upon the chain, is eccentrically apdimensioned that in stretched condition of the one side-only, the two inner edges of theli'nks inner edges of the links.y The outer edges of outer edges engage the chains ycannot buckle in fthe direction lof the side of the chain at which the rounded-off edges are located. s f The middle chain C operates between the two respectthereto. For this purpose, however, a narradius corresponding to half the length off the `sideych'ains A and B and is turned about 90 with f in Figs. s to 9 Ias email a number ef'individuai links and pins as possible is used in order to reduce to a minimum the number of wearing parts v of the chains and thereby to ,extend their usefulness.- As maybe seen from the drawings, the

chain'links` consist of groups of elements eachA having la single middle link portion 1' of a. thickchains the links are always lin contact! v's'zith each lother. VTo render the chains movabletowards facing Vthe sprocket wheel are rounded off at a e `.nessas great as possibleand two connecting linkv portions q ofless thickness. The length of the vchain links, moreover, is calculated as a multiple ofthe pitch of the pins. One of the pins i pro- Iink, is piv'otally arranged in the end 'of the links,

'vre'ception' of the pins are rnot arranged vin the the links are not so rounded, and when these -20 row chain comes into consideration, r the links .1*

of which' lcome'into contact with the pins d of pthesi'dechainsl A- and B;v vThe outer ends of the'pinSj of the middle chain Care countersunk .l

f symmetrically constructed inne-ry and outer ,link

in the links.

After the chainsAandB have lpassed over the sprocket Wheels, an I -shapedcross section 4results 4rangements of the pins of` the links :of the side I' L. chains A and B these chains cannot bulge Aout-` ias shown in Figure 2. Due tothe eccentric arl wardly when.pressurer is-applied thereto. .They z are'prevented' from bulging inwardly by the presl ence of the .middle chain C, located'between the 1' j. againstthe link pinsy d. In case of great chain lengths exposed to buckling, yhook-shaped links g and'h, similar to` the y and h" shown in l chains A and'B with its links bearing outwardly Figures 3-5,iare provided, which-are secured in a g definite spaced relation to the eccentric links and y at. the outside of zthese linksso `that by the interl rengagement of such hook-shaped links they other z' l links become in effectinterlocked. Y

L [Infthe'arrangement shown in Figures `3 to 5, the 1 Y two oppositely acting'side gchains A and B are l .trained overthe individual .sprocket wheels Z,.l,

which are coupled by gears `so that they are ydriven i ohainlinks y and h. .oi which .the side ychainsare vertical position after having moved' over .the

g sprocket wheels.

the ys idefchains A' and Bf vand is turned at an of the side chains come intocontactwith the links i the links thereof as soon asthe hook-shaped links l' y@3f/and h of the side chains come into engage-y 'l The third or middle chain C operates between angle of 90 with respect thereto, so that the links i of themiddlechainsC" andare Ipressed'against i menigy Ii',however,' narrower links are chosen f or-therniddle chain-C. kthen the pins d' and e -of A :the side .chains will bear against'the iinks vof the middle'chain instead of'theirlinks. n y

"Upon engagement of the side chains Av and 1 fandtl'iev middle chain. Ca doublecross section of i I-.shape:1'es`u1ts, asshoWn-in'Figure 4,-which, when f `rn'essure fis .exerted thereon, cannot deflect toward any; sideand is .rigidagainst buckling;

According.` to the .preferred construction shown.

Vcentre lines of .theindividual-links but are spaced .from the outer longitudinal edge of the links at the smallest distance consistent with the lrequired strength of the links; rOn this outer side' the links are `rounded oiy as .described above,1whereas towards the-inner -edges of thelinks they are extended exactly half the pitch ofthe pins at right yangles to the axis of the chain. Inthe'j stretched condition ofthe chain,.t -can bulge, as explained above, towards one side only. .A further simplification 'of the chain compared totheconstruction already described is obtained vby thefactthatvonly the middle link portions r-located between'the portions q are unsymmetrieally formed. 'Ihe symmetrical inner-and .outer link portions q are :fixed to vthe centre ier middle link@ portions r and the 'parts of the link portions q having the b Ores receiving the chain pins i .extend about half the pitchof the pins beyondthe corresponding mid-y dle vlink portion 17. Between these extended parts Y of the link portions q, 1the middle llink portion r of thevfollowing chain linkgengages. Dueto the outer link portions q being xed tothe middle link portionfr, a safeguidance ofthe -latterconnected to the pivot pin i in the "fork, so formed is obtained yand a. lateral deection or giving. way of the middle vlink `portionsr yof the entire. chains A" and Bf', under compressive strain isvexcluded .'Moreovenv owing to this-construction the middle link portions r must, in the stretchedcondition of the chain, positively occupy a position rin `a' line ex# tendingparallel to the axis of the chain;

In an arrangement wherein the chains have linksl which canpivot under compressivestrain about. all chain pins,`the middle linkportionsmay "be displaced in averti-cal direction relatively to the A'chain pins, particularly if the .latter are not snuglyiitted or if wear of the pinsor of the holes receiving them has occurred. Even afterwear,

this `is impossible with. the' chain. according to Figs. 6to 9. If vthe connectinglinksextending to the middle linkiportions'should connect onlywith the pins 'provided at vthe ends of the same, vthen "tween two' middle or centre 'link'portions whereby "the above `mentionedy drawbacks. would be l65-` her'again two pivot points would be presentbecaused. indi-cated, however, eachtwo connectinglinksfbelonging togethery are rigidly connected 'to' a. centre link .portion by iaplurality of chain I pins, so thatbetween eachftwo centre link portions one v'pivot-point'. only is present i. e. 'in the end extending`- tbeyon'di the connecting links. 'Thereby fall :centre flinks' .of thechain-are positively assured yof being parallel to theaxis 1f-the -chain inthe str etclrie'd condition ofthe latter,A f

B, A.disengagement'cf thechain pins from fthe comprise .the inner edges of the"f1at links'ofthe gears k is prevented by the middle chain'C" as the latter simultaneously forms the required counter bearing. Afterthe chains'A" andfB" have passed the gears k, while moving upwardly, they are guided over the sprocket wheels l". The pitch of ther teeth of the sprocket wheels corresponds to the distance the pvotpins of the chain links are spaced from each other. The sprocket wheels l are so arranged above the gears k that the pivot pins of the chains moving `upwardly when engaging the related space between the teeth of the sprocket wheels are still pressed against the centre chain, whereby deflection or disengagement of the pins is prevented. `At definite distances from each other the outer connecting links are provided with hooks h.' which, after engaging the opposite elongated chain pins s mutually lock the chains A" and B, whereby.

after the chains having passed the sprocket wheels, while moving downwardlyga rigid compression resistant unitis obtained below thengears 7c. A simplification of the locking arrangements described above is obtained by the fact that locking hooks are provided at definitely spaced distances from each other on one chain only, and only elongated chain pins s engage the locking hooks h on the opposite vchain instead of locking hooks.

Alo

Locking and releasing respectively of the chainsv A and B" by the locking hooks h" and the oppositely arranged elongated pins s are effected during movement of the chains A and B" toward and away from the sprocket wheels and not,

as described above,y at the lifting gears k. To

ensure a uniform load on the chains A" and B The middle chain C" is connected to the bodyJ or member 7J to be lifted at the point o of application ofthe chains A." and B andextends 'between the latter upwardly until the roller mounted on the shaft m above f the sprocket opposed chains.

4. A non-buckling chain'system accordingwtol claim 1 wherein said means comprises cooperating end portions on adjacent links ofthe opposed y chains said end l:portions being arranged to abut` and prevent outward buckling oftheloppo'sed chains. i

"5. A non-buckling chain rsystem according to' claim 1 wherein-said means comprises extensions` outward buckling of the opposed chains, said hookelements being provided on successive links of the opposed chains.

'7. A non-buckling chain system according t i cla-im 1 wherein said means comprises extensions von some of the links of the opposed'ehains, and

hook elements formed on` such extensions, the hook relemients being arranged on 'the opposed chains to-interengage and prevent inward and outward buckling of the opposed chains, said hooky elements beingprovided on-alternate' links of the opposed chains.

8. A non-buck1ing chain vsystem according, tol

claim l wherein said means comprises extensions onsome of the links of theopposed chains, and hook elements formed on such extensions, the

l hook elements being arranged onthe'opposed wheels Z is reached. A relative displacement ofI the chains in the direction of the axis of the shaft m is impossible. i v

The embodiments of the present invention, de-

scribed herein by way of example in vertical posi- 1. A non-buckling chain system of the char-4 acter described, comprising a pair of opposed chains, each chain comprising transverse sprocket engaging connecting pinsl and two sets of fiat links positioned on the ends of the' pins; a third chain positioned between the two opposed chains, said third chain comprising transverse sprocket engaging connecting pins and two sets of fiat links positioned at the ends of the pins, the pins of the third chain being arranged substantially at right angles to the pins of the other chains, with the links of said third chain bearing against inwardly facing portions of the opposed chains so as to prevent the opposed chains from buckling inwardly, and said links of the opposed chains having means preventing outward buckling of the chains.

2. A non-buckling chain system according to claim 1 wherein said inwardly facing portions comprise the inner sides of the pins of the opposed chains.

3. A non-buckling chain system according to claim 1 wherein said inwardly facing portions chains to interengage and preventinward and 'outward buckling of the opposed chains. said hook elements being spaced along the'opposed chains at substantial intervals embracing several links.

with` the opposite end of the spaced flinks projecting longitudinally beyond the corresponding end of the middle plate, the projecting ends of the spaced links of the chains extending on opposite sides of the exposed ends of the next middle plates and overlapping said exposed ends and pivoted to the exposed ends by some of said 'y connecting pins.

'10: A non-buckling chain system according to claim. l wherein the links of the opposed chains comprise a pair of spaced links and a relatively thick middle plate disposed between the spaced links, said spaced links and middle plate being secured together with one end of. the spaced linksl longitudinally spaced from and exposing the corresponding end of the middle plate and with the opposite end of the spaced 4links projecting vlongitudinally .beyond the corresponding end of the middle plate, the projecting endsof the spaced links ofthe chains extending on opposite sides of the exposed ends of the next middle plates and overlapping said exposed ends and pivoted to the exposed ends by some of said connecting pins, said means comprising substantially sguaiied .fend fgporftions .on the adjacent -ieisids of jsaid middle plates which abut in a'stnetched.con vdition fofpthe chains and -prevent loutward movement .of v.any individual links. y l

' 11. A., non-'buckling chain system accordingto `ciaini :1 wherein vthe linksv of theopp'osed chains coipniseaQpa-ir of spaced :links` vand -a .relatively thickv middle plate disposed between the spaced V linksfsaid yspacedflinksfand middle .plate .being secured; together with one en d of thel spaced links longitudinally spaced from and exposing the v corresponding end of the i-rniddleV plate and ywith the opposite end oie-the .spaced links proiiecting vlongitudinally. beyondl Ithe corresponding 'end of Y the i middle plate, the projecting "ends of `the :spacedlinks of the chains' extending on opposite ,sides-tof the exposed ends of sthe spaced links of the' chains extending onV opposite sides"` .ofthe Iexposedfendsof Ithe next middle platesand overf flapping said exposedends and pivoted to the exposed endsby :some of said lconnecting pins-.said 'means comprising rextensions of lthe ends of some of-the :connecting -pins .and hooks formed fon'fcorresponding o nes of the spaced links. for vengaging .the extensions ASov-as .to prevent lateral buckling 'of..the' .'chains. v

- I vl2. Anon-buckling chain -system according-to claim 1 LWherein'the links of the opposedchainls :compri-se la pair of Yspaced links and .a .relatively thick-middle `plate Ldis'posed between the spaced flinks, said, spaced `links and middle plate being :claim 1 wlnenein @he linksffof the ,opposed-chains comprise Aa pair A .of spaced .links ,and a .relatinely thick .middleware disposed'aetween .the .spaced 1inks,said .spaced .and .middle plate being secured @together with one -end of .the espaced links longitudinallyspaced .from and exposing .the lconr-.esponding .end vof the rmiddle .plateand with theoppositezend of the spaced .links ,pro y y 'jecting' longitudinally beyond the corresponding endofthe middlefplate, .the projecting -endscf 4the spaced links .of the chains extending on op- ;.posite sides of the exposed ends of the next middle `platesand overlappingsaid exposed ends and `pivoted .tothe exposed ends bysoine ofsaid connecting pins, some of the said connecting vpins `beingiixedly spaced along the saidlinks vbesides .the .connecting .pins .acting as pivots,v thereby j :providing sprocket engaging means'.

secured Itogether.with one end of the .spaced glinks` longitudinally spacedfrom and :exposing theucorrespondin'gz-end -of the middle plate and I -jectingv longitudinally fbeyond the corresponding 'end of the middle ',plate, fthe .projecting l'ends of 'thetspaced links of theachains extending on opf pesite `sides ef-the exposed .end-s of the next.

middle plates .and overlapping said exposed .ends

'fa-nd pivoted to the exposed-ends by some .of saidl connecting ,pi-ns, the :said :facing portions I of the lopposed chains comprising the surfaces of fthe connecting-pins 4 between the'inner .ones of said spaced-links. y I, i 13. ,Annen-buckling chain .system accordi-ng vto .14, .A non-buckl'ng fhain system .according .to clairnl wherein 'the ylinks of Athe opposedchains v.comprise Va pair .of spaced :linksand .a .relatively thick Imiddle plate .disposed betweenithe spaced li-nks,..said .spaced .links .and .middle plate vbeing rsecured together with one end of vthe spaced .links :longitudinally spacedfrom and exposing thecorresponding end vof the `middle vplate .and with the ,opposite .end of.y the ,spaced 'links .,pro-

rjecting longitudinally beyond the corresponding :end-.of the .middle plate', the projecting ends of .thespacedflinks of .the chains extending `on op .posite sides of the exposed .ends/ of vthe next the stationary f element on r`an y.axis .substantially parallel-to the'. connectingrpins of rthe vopposed chains, the terminal ends of the Opposed `chains being .pivoted V.to .opposite sides of said 4vmovable Aelf-:ment and thesaid third chainbeing .connected ftolsad .stationary element,

KARL RENDER. 

